FTF "HFH"

I am up two pounds this week, for valid reasons of course. It's amazing how fast a month will go by if you know what I mean. So yes, I am retaining water weight at the moment!


Here is what I did this week:

Saturday: OFF- went to the casino!!!
Sunday: OFF
Monday: 3 miles on the elliptical, 1 mile walk.
Tuesday: 3 miles on the elliptical, 1 mile walk.
Wednesday: OFF- another meeting after school!!!
Thursday: 3.3 mile run on treadmill at an incline of 3 and speed of 6.0.
Friday: 2 mile run on treadmill at and incline of 4 and speed 6.0.





Christie asked us what our "Aha" moment was for this weeks question.



Here is my "Aha" moment:




This picture was taken a day after I had my baby.... but when I saw this picture I thought, holy crap I look like the giant state puff marshmallow man in the movie Ghost Busters!!!! After seeing this picture I knew that I was going to have to work really hard to get the weight off!!! And I have see:
Right after having my baby I was down 20 pounds. Since then I have lost 52 pounds!!! 6 more pounds to reach my goal!!!! YAY!!! But I do have a question for all you ladies out there that have had children and have lost the weight. Do your jeans EVER fit right again? Even though I had lost the weight, none of my jeans fit me?? Am I missing something??? And should I just throw in the towel and go by new ones?

FTF "HFH"

The scale finally moved! I am down two pounds this week. However, I am not overly excited about these two pounds because I barely got to work out this week and I know that I just lost muscle mass!!! Monday I had to take my little man to get his sixth month shots, Wednesday I had a meeting after work, and Thursday I took the little man to see his physician. I dealt with a constipated baby, again, all week. My poor baby gets so constipated to the point that he is squealing in pain when he is trying to push, it just break my heart. And you know what the scary thing is? He doesn't even seem like anythings bothering him until he is pushing!!! Anyway, the doctor said that there was nothing major to worry about at this point and that I just had to find a happy medium with the juices and fruits etc... My little man finally got everything out on Thursday and is now free flowing!!! Yipee..... I just hope it stays that way.

As for working out, here is what I managed to squeeze in this week:

Saturday: 3 mile run with dogs, 3 sets of stairs at the park.
Sunday: 3 mile run with dogs, 3 sets of stairs at the park.
Monday: OFF
Tuesday: 3 miles on the elliptical, 1 mile walk.
Wednesday: OFF
Thursday: OFF
Friday: 3 mile run on track, 1 mile walk.

Christie asked us to renew our vows this week. Here are my vows.

*For the next 4 weeks, I will TRY to eat clean.
* I will make a conscious effort to work out 5 to 6 days a week and maybe even start adding some weights into my workout ( I know I keep saying this but time is of the essence when you are a working mom and want to spend time with your baby before he goes to bed).
* I will begin training for the half marathon that I want to run in May, even if I don't end up running in it!!!
* I will try to eat less cakes and desserts that Mrs. S makes for all the teachers at work, she is evil!!! (This will be my most difficult task).
* And I will reach my goal weight or at least I hope... 7 more pounds to go!!!
* I will think about the inspiration and motivation this group has given me to want to be a healthier person!!!!

FTF "HFH"

I finally feel like I am getting HOT FOR THE HOLIDAYS!!! I did not lose any weight this week but I can tell that I am finally losing the inches. And to be quiet honest with you, I would rather lose inches than weight. Weight is just a number, it's how I feel that really counts. And even though I've been sick this week, I feel great!!! Or should I say I feel like I look great FINALLY!!! My clothes are fitting better and I am almost back to my size 8 jeans, which for me is good since I am 5'10!!!! Anyway, enough of tooting my own horn... I usually never do that!!!!

Here is what I did this week:

Saturday: 3 mile run and 3 sets of stairs at the park with the dogs.
Sunday: OFF
Monday: 2.5 mile run on treadmill, 1 mile walk.
Tuesday: 2 mile walk with son in running stroller (it was beautiful out and I wanted to enjoy the weather with him!!!)
Wednesday: 3 mile run on track, 1 mile walk.
Thursday: 3 miles on the elliptical.
Friday: OFF

This weeks questions was a fill in the blank posted by Christie.

My life would be better if I had more ________.

My life would be better if I had more TIME. Time to spend with my husband. Time to spend with my child. And time to spend with our families. It's funny... when I was younger my parents would always say, "Don't be in such a hurry to grow up." Well now I know what they were talking about. When I was younger it felt like time stood still and now there just isn't enough of it, if you know what I mean. It seems like only yesterday I was crying and complaining about doing chores before I was allowed to go with my friends and that was about 15 years ago. It seems like only yesterday I moved into my own dorm room on my college campus and that was about 12 years ago. It seems like only yesterday that I finished my masters degree and got married and that was about 5 years ago. And it seems like only yesterday that I had my child was born and that was already over 6 months ago!!! And to think.... I will never get any of that time back. So, I will cherish the time I have now.... even though I wish I had more of it!!!

FTF "HFH" (Not a total disaster)

I lost the three pound gain that I reported for Taking it off together Tuesday so I'll take it!!! My week was not a total disaster after all!!! That makes me happy.. YAY!!!!

Here is what I did this week:

Saturday: 2.5 mile run with dogs, 3 sets of stairs at the park.
Sunday: 2.5 mile run with dogs, 3 sets of stairs at the park.
Monday: 3 miles on the elliptical, 1 mile walk.
Tuesday: OFF
Wednesday: OFF
Thursday: 3 miles on the elliptical, 50 crunches, 10 push ups, and 1 mile walk.
Friday: 3 miles on the elliptical, 50 crunches, 10 push ups, and 1 mile walk.

I actually do have a healthy recipe to share but I do not have a name for it!!!! Anyway, all you need is ground turkey, rice, salsa, and cottage cheese. And all you do is brown the ground turkey, cook the rice, and then mix the turkey and the rice with some salsa and cottage cheese (you can decide how much of each you would like to add). This dish can be served cold or hot (I prefer it heated)!!! Let me know if you decide try this recipe.

FTF "HFH"

I lost two pounds this week. Yes, the same to pounds that I reported for Taking it off together Tuesday. I said last week that maybe this week I would add some lifting. Um... ya, that didn't happen. I did my same old work out that I always do. It was like I had a good angel sitting on my right shoulder saying, "go lift, go lift, go lift" but then there was the bad angel on the left shoulder saying, "go run, go run, go run"!!! And what do you know the bad angel won me over every time!

Here is what I did this week:

Saturday: 2.5 mile run with dogs, 2 set of stairs at the park.
Sunday: 3 mile walk with son.
Monday: 3 mile run on track, 1 mile walk.
Tuesday: 3 mile run on track, 1 mile walk.
Wednesday: 3 miles on elliptical, 1 mile walk.
Thursday: 3 miles on elliptical, 1 mile walk.
Friday: OFF

I took today off to go get our first family Christmas picture. I will be posting pictures soon!

Now on to Christie's question of the week: So remember our question for this week? About your favorite and least favorite body parts or rather, what you'd like to work on? What are they???

I'm not sure that I actually have a favorite when it comes to a part of my body, but if I had to pick something I guess I would pick my shoulder muscles (sorry Christie!!!). I've always had good shape to my arms and I am thankful for that! As for the part I don't like, I would have to say my gut buster!!! I could do a million sit ups and I would still have a gut!!! I don't really even drink any more and it's still there. Now I know I just had a baby and everything, but even pre-baby no matter what diet I would try or work out I followed the gut just won't go away. Any suggestions on how to get ride of it?

FTF "HFH" Better late than never!!!

I am down one pound this week for HFH! It is the same one pound that I reported for Taking it off together Tuesday. I have reached the point to were my cardio workouts alone are not going to cut it! I definitely need to start adding sit ups, push ups, and weight lifting. That will be my goal for next week. I'm not going to make any promises because I love to run and it's hard for me to not run and lift but I will try. Maybe I will even try doing both!!!


Here is what I did this week:

Saturday: 2 mile walk, 2 mile run with son in running stroller.
Sunday: OFF
Monday: 2 mile walk, 2 mile run with son in running stroller.
Tuesday: 3 mile run on track, 1 mile walk.
Wednesday: 3 miles on elliptical, 1 mile walk.
Thursday: 3 miles on elliptical, 1 mile walk.
Friday: 2.5 mile run on track, 1 mile walk.


On another note: It's homecoming weekend for my school district. To be supportive I dressed in spirit wear on Friday! My little guy had on his very own spirit wear too! His little onesie says Pirate Hoops.


Here we are bright and early Friday morning.

As for the question of the week: What inspires me and where did I find it?

I never had to go looking! My dad has inspired me my whole life. He has always lead by example and has pushed me to be the best person that I can be. He has taught me that hard work and perseverance pays off. He has always believed that I could do anything I put my mind to and because of that I have accomplished most of the goals I have set for myself. Now that I am a mother, I want to be that inspiration. I want to be able to inspire my son the way my dad has inspired me! That is what inspires me now at this very moment. I only hope I do as good a job with my son as my dad did with me!!!

Fat Ticker Friday (Hot for the Holidays)

BOO..BOO...BOO!!! I gained two pounds this week?? What the heck? I worked out faithfully as usual.

Here is what I did:

Sunday: 2.5 mile run with dogs, 3 sets of stairs at the park.
Monday: 3 miles on the elliptical.
Tuesday: 3 mile run on treadmill.
Wednesday: 3 miles on the elliptical, 25 sit ups.
Thursday: 3 mile run on track.
Friday: 2.5 mile run on track.

Now on to Christie question for the week.
What's on your life's to do list?

This could potentially be a very long list but since I haven't really thought about it all week, here is the shortened version.

1. I would like to build my dream home.

2. I would like to vacation more (anywhere at this point is fine with me!).

3. I would like to take classes to get my principal license.

4. I would eventually like to have another child (this one should be easy to cross off, just have to convince my husband!!).

5. I would like to learn Spanish ( I took four years of it in high school and now wish I would have continued learning more of it in college).

Like I said, I am sure I could come up with more but this is what I have got for now!!!
Happy Hot for the Holidays!!!

Fat Ticker Friday (Hot for the Holidays)

I lost a total of two pounds this week. I didn't necessarily watch my food intake this week because I have been making a conscious effort to healthier foods in general. I figure lots of small healthy meals has to be better than three large unhealthy meals. I worked out every day except for Saturday and have been trying new things, like the elliptical. At first, I did not like the elliptical but now that I have found the weight loss program I LOVE IT!

Here's what I did this week:

Sunday: 3.2 mile run on treadmill at an incline of 3.5 and speed of 5.5.
Monday: 3 miles on the elliptical, 1 mile walk.
Tuesday: 3 mile walk with my son.
Wednesday: 3 mile run on the track, 1 mile walk.
Thursday: 3 miles on the elliptical, 1 mile walk.
Friday: 3 miles on the elliptical, 1 mile walk.

Last week, I tried lifting weights for the first time in a long time and added a few sit ups. I decided that my body needs more time before doing those types of exercises. I felt fine after I lifted but it caught up to me by the weekend. I did not feel right all day Saturday and think that had a lot to do with it. And for the record, I use Taking it off together Tuesday's as my mid week check on the old scale. The pound I reported Tuesday is one of the pounds that I am reporting for our Fat Ticker Friday!

Now on to the question of the week:

"What do you want your legacy to be?"

First I would like to start by saying that I am so glad Christie asked this question. I have been thinking about this a lot lately since having my first child and reading the book The Last Lecture. That being said here is my answer to the question:
I want to lead by example and show my son that hard work and perseverance pays off. I want my family to know that no matter what I will always love them and be there for them. I want to set goals and accomplish them. As many of you know, I am a teacher and as a teacher you kind of become a life long learner. I want learn more about our economy, politics, and the world in general so that I can help my son make the right decisions/choices as he becomes a man. I want to continue to live an active healthy lifestyle (lead by example) so that my son will want to do the same. I want to life to the fullest without regret and for the people in my life to know I have no regrets because in some way or other I care about each person that has crossed my path.

Hot for the Holidays!!!

I am so excited for the Hot for the Holidays group weight loss challenge that Christie is organizing. Stop by her site to check out how to join in on the fun. She always does a really nice job getting sponsor's for prizes and helping people to get motivated to shed the pounds! We recently finished up the Summer of Me weight loss challenge and lost a combined total of 85 pounds (I think?), you can read more about that here. As Christie said in her post, who doesn't want to be the hot wife at the holiday Christmas party? I DO!!! I DO!!! So go on over and sign up!!!